Protect 15 players/picks in your organization

[White Sox GM (Michael)]

We have done this in the past, e.g. here ondeckcircle.proboards.com/thread/11130/keep-10-assets-team-again

If there were an upcoming expansion draft, and you could only protect 15 players (MLB/MILB) and picks, who would you choose? Include rationale if you'd like.

[The LA Angels of Anaheim GM]

1. Juan Soto
2. Adley
3. Jeff McNeil

[Tigers GM (Alex)]

Easy picks:


Pete Alonso - young, cheap, big power. LGM
Jose Ramirez - all around stud on a cheap deal
Jacob DeGrom - best SP in the league if he can stay healthy
Royce Lewis - needs to stay healthy this year but remains an elite athlete with a high ceiling

The rest:

Ji-Man Choi - solid UTIL bat / backup 1B, has some power and good OBP
Christian Arroyo - finally got an extended look in the majors last year starting at 2B for the Red Sox and played well, with a .770 OPS. room for improvement if he continues to start in 2022
David Fletcher - versatile infielder, had a down year but should bounce back to closer to the .298 average that he hit between 2019 and 2020
Charlie Blackmon - on the back end of his career but still a solid all around contributor
Raimel Tapia - speedy OF, exceeded expectations so far, has 10-25 upside with a decent triple slash
Jose Siri - tantalizing power/speed upside, looked great in a September cup of coffee with the Astros

Anthony Desclafani - hoping he can be a solid #2/3 SP, and contract isn't too onerous if he disappoints
Michael Pineda - solid mid rotation SP on a cheap deal
Dylan Bundy - love the contract if he can pitch closer to his 2020 numbers (2.95 FIP) than his 2021 numbers
Nestor Cortes - fantastic 2021 numbers (2.90 ERA and 103 Ks in 93 IP over 14 games started) - can he repeat it / will the Yankees give him the chance?
Phil Bickford - cheap, good, young RP on a great team, should rack up holds

[Pirates GM (Caleb)]

Jake Cave
Luis Matos
Jacob Berry
Roansy Conteras
Lance "Best Contract Of The FA Class" Lynn
Jake Eder
Pick 1.03
Luis Matos again

[Rays GM]

Pick 1.01
Marco Luciano
Pick 1.02
Diego Cartaya
Pick 1.04
Rays 2023 1st
Pick 1.06
Heston Kejrstad
Everson Pereira
Harry Ford
James Triantos
Deyvison De Los Santos
Chrisitan Vaquero
Carson Williams
Cristian Santana
Steven Kwan

[Cubs GM (Jason)]

1. N. Lowe
2. B. Dalbec
3. T. Turner
4. H. Kim
5. T. O'Neill
6. W. Calhoun
7. V. Robles
8. C. Pache
9. L. Garcia
10. D. Williams
11. MJ Melendez
12. B. Stott
13. N. Gorman
14. M. Vargas
15. M. Bleis

[Mets GM (Jack)]

Offense:
Jose Abreu
Nick Castellanos
Kris Bryant
Starling Marte
Ryan Mountcastle
Luis Garcia
Brandon Marsh

Defense:
Max Meyer
Logan Gilbert
Nick Lodolo
Brady Singer
Ryu Hyun Jin

Special Teams:
James Karinchak
Brusdar Graterol

Future Offense
Henry Davis

[Yankees GM (Justin)]

1. Bichette
2. Kepler
3. Buehler
4. Webb
5. Mahle
6. Adames
7. Chisholm
8. Alcantara
9. Cease
10. Manoah
11. McClanahan
12. Cruz
13. Moreno
14. Hassell
15. Cavalli

[Brewers GM (Marty)]

1. Nash Walters

[White Sox GM (Michael)]

Top of the rotation:
P Shane Baz
P Michael Kopech
P Robbie Ray

Probably the three easiest picks for my team.

Easy-decision bats:
CF/RF Mookie Betts
LF Christian Yelich
LF Lourdes Gurriel Jr.
1B/LF/RF LaMonte Wade
LF/RF Robbie Grossman

Well...my outfield will be set, at least. Betts is obvious, and I think Gurriel and Grossman are also easy picks as above-average outfielders on affordable long-term deals. I think Wade will be legit moving forward, even with some regression, I have to protect a (2) with decent slash line/20 HR/10 SB potential. For me, Yelich is also pretty easy. I know it's a big contract, but I'd rather pay a lot of money to a good/great player than a small amount of money for a replaceable guy.

Other MLB guys:
P Tylor Megill
2B Kolten Wong
3B/SS Eugenio Suarez

Just hard to find decent MLB starters at this point, fine with all of their contracts (Suarez is the only borderline one) so I would protect em all.

Prospects:
OF Josh Lowe
3B Jose Miranda
SS Angel Martinez
2023 CWS 1st

Lowe and Miranda are easy picks as close-to-MLB impact bats. Martinez is probably the only other prospect of mine that I prefer over a 1st right now.

[Royals GM (Adam)]

Dynasty building blocks
1. Jose Berrios, SP
2. Gavin Lux, 2B/SS
3. Nate Pearson, SP
4. Mackenzie Gore, SP
5. Joe Ryan, SP

Elite Players/Prospects
6. Trey Sweeney, SS/3B
7. JJ Bleday, OF
8. Aaron Ashby, SP
9. Oswald Peraza, SS
10. Emerson Hancock, SP

Guys Probably Worth Protecting
11. Taylor Walls, SS
12. Mark Cahna, OF
13. Ivan Herrera, C
14. Drew Waters, OF
15. Chase Petty, SP

[Reds GM (Dave)]

1. Kiebert Ruiz
2. Carlos Correa
3. Enrique Hernandez
4. AJ Pollack
5. Kyle Schwerber
6. Brandon Woodruff
7. Casey Mize
8. Joey Wendle
9. Miguel Sano
10. Madison Bumgarner
11. Zach Dacies
12. Randal Grichuk
13. Kolby Allard
14. Phil Maton
15. Cesar Hernandez

[Padres GM (Noah)]

1) Tatis
2) Albies
3) Eloy
4) Winker
5) Grisham
6) McCullers
7) Urias
8) Framber
9) Snell
10) Soroka
11) Lamet
12) Grandal
13) Urias
14) McKenzie
15) Lacy

biggest unprotected: joey gallo, garrett mitchell, chris flexen, nick anderson, nick senzel, nick martinez

[Astros GM (Max)]

In no order:

1. Pick 1.07
2. Patrick Sandoval
3. Luis Patino
4. Huascar Ynoa
5. Ranger Suarez
6. Edwin Diaz
7. Alejandro Kirk
8. Freddie Freeman
9. Jared Walsh
10. Brendan Rodgers
11. Cedric Mullins
12. DL Hall
13. Jackson Jobe
14. Shea Langeliers
15. Curtis Mead

[Nationals GM (Alex)]

In no order:

1. WSH 2023 1st
2. Reginald Preciado
3. Roderick Arias
4. Dustin Harris
5. Peyton Battenfield
6. Carlos Colmenarez
7. Eddys Leonard
8. Ezequiel Tovar
9. Forrest Whitley
10. Seiya Suzuki
11. Andres Gimenez
12. Pat Corbin
13. Erick Pena
14. Masyn Winn
15. Austin Shenton

[Orioles GM (Jeff)]

In No Order....

1. Tyler Soderstrom
2. Josh Jung
3. Jordan Walker
4. Bret Batty
5. Nick Gonzalez
6. Austin Martin
7. Ben Montgomery
8. Jack Leiter
9. Grayson Rodriguez
10. Cole Winn
11. Quinn Priester
12. Matt Allen
13. Pete Crowe-Armstrong
14. Orioles 2023 1st
15. Colton Cowser

[Mariners GM (David)]

In No Order:

JT Realmuto
CJ Cron
Francisco Lindor
Josh Rojas
Anthony Rendon
Giancarlo Stanton
Mike Yastrzemski
Jo Adell
Adam Wainwright
Marcus Stroman
Eric Lauer
Merrill Kelly
Zach Plesac
Raisel Inglesias
Glenn Otto

[clevelandodcphil]

The Untouchable 15:

Bobby Witt Jr.
Anthony Volpe
Noelvi Marte
Brayan Rocchio
Riley Greene
Brennen Davis
Jesus Sanchez
Leody Taveras
Francisco Alvarez
Michael Harris
Kevin Alcantara
Coby Mayo
Elly De La Cruz
Cristian Hernandez
Jon Gray